Nigerian blasts mar pope's appeal for peace

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI issued pleas for peace to reign across the world during his traditional Christmas address Sunday, a call marred by the deadly bombing near Nigeria's capital of a Catholic church, struck by Muslim extremists after worshipers had celebrated Mass.

A failed bombing also occurred near a church in the Nigerian city of Jos, followed by a shooting that killed a police officer. The blasts came a year after Christmas Eve bombs in Jos claimed by Islamist extremists killed 32.

Benedict did not refer explicitly to the Nigerian bombings in his "Urbi et Orbi" speech, Latin for to the city and to the world, in which he raises alarm about world hot spots. But in a statement, the Vatican called the attacks signs of "cruelty and absurd, blind hatred" that show no respect for human life.

Elsewhere, Christmas was celebrated with the typical joy of the season. In Cuba, Catholics had plenty to cheer as they prepared for Benedict's March arrival, the first visit by a pontiff to the Communist-run island since John Paul II's historic tour nearly 14 years ago.

"We have faith in God that we will be allowed to have this treat," said Rogelio Montes de Oca, 72, as he stood outside the Cathedral in Old Havana. "Not every country will have the chance to see him physically and receive his blessing."

In the Holy Land, pilgrims and locals alike flocked to Jesus' traditional birthplace in numbers not seen since before the Palestinian uprising more than a decade ago, despite lashing rain and wind.

"We wanted to be part of the action," said Don Moore, 41, a psychology professor from Berkeley, Calif., who came to Bethlehem with his family. "This is the place, this is where it all started. It doesn't get any more special than that."

The Holy Land and the entire Mideast were very much on Benedict's mind as he delivered his Christmas speech from the sun-drenched loggia of St. Peter's Basilica. The pontiff, 84, appeared in fine form, just hours after celebrating a two-hour Christmas Eve Mass that ended around midnight.

"May the Lord come to the aid of our world torn by so many conflicts which even today stain the earth with blood," Benedict said.

He said he hoped that the birth of Jesus, which Christmas celebrates, would send a message to all who need to be saved from hardships: that Israelis and Palestinians would resume peace talks, and that there would be an "end to the violence in Syria, where so much blood has already been shed."

He called for international assistance for refugees from the Horn of Africa and flood victims in Thailand, among others, and urged greater political dialogue in Myanmar and stability in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa's Great Lakes region, which includes Congo, Uganda, and Rwanda.

After his speech, Benedict delivered Christmas greetings in 65 languages, from Mongolian to Maori, Aramaic to Albanian, Tamil to Thai. He finished the list with Guarani and Latin, as the bells tolled from St. Peter's enormous bell towers.

In the piazza below, thousands of jubilant tourists and pilgrims and hundreds of colorful Swiss Guards and Italian military bands mingled around the Vatican's giant Christmas tree and larger-than-life Nativity scene.